Services in California | Autism PDD
This is my second time posting on this site, as my first thread was shut down. What I was hoping for was some input on services in the Northern California area for my 8 year old High functioning PDD-NOS child. He needs constant support and has a one on one aide who shadows him throughout the day. I somehow got lost between two members who started off giving me information and ended up attacking each other resulting in my posting to be shut down. I am very grateful for the members responses and hope to hear from more of you. I have done extensive research on approx. 4 other states and none of them were options for my family due to the "absence" of services not the willingness to fight. Even here in NY I have had to battle for my services, using advocates, attorneys and outside agencies to get what my son has today. My son is in a good place now but I am a 24/7 advocate and am willing to do that wherever I go as long as I know that I the services are attainable. I am not looking for an easy way out just some honest feedback. This is my first time using any type of message board please help.
Thank you sincerely,
Keri
Sorry for your upsetting experience. I wish I could help, but I am living in NY and I am soooo happy with my son's services and placement, I couldn't imagine moving anywhere else. And while I did have to work hard, fight and advocate for my son, the payoff has been amazing! Here in NY though, we do have better services and laws in place then many other states.
I hope you get great feedback this time.
Thanks for your feedback. I am in Farmingdale School District and things have been great here. Unfortunately we have to relocate for my husband to get promoted. Tough decision but if I dont find what my son needs we will have to stay here. Dont get me wrong I love LI, my family is here but its just getting so exp. I am in new construction and just got killed in taxes. Guess you take the good with the bad.
Welcome to the board Keri. I too am sorry for your disappointing first time posting experience and am glad to see it didn't make you give up.
I am not in California, but I know there are many members here who are and may be able to help you.
I wanted to offer a site that may be able to connect you with some resources. www.unlockingautism.org has a searchable parent 2 parent network which can possibly connect you with a parent in your area for help. ( PARENT 2 PARENT NETWORK IS SEARCHABLE! ) The site is being moved so they are currently down but keep checking... they are supposed to be back up soon!
Hope you are able to move to an area that has the services your child needs and that it isn't too much of a fight! Good Luck
Glad to see you are back at it
I'm in FL...we're happy with our services here, but let me tell you - it took us 2 years of constant fighting and getting an attorney to get anywhere down here. Forget about mediwaiver too...they shut down the wait list b/c there are 15,000 people on it. So...if you're not financially sound with insurance (b/c a lot of docs don't take medicaid here - we can't get that even) you're sunk. We have BC/BS now and Payne is doing WONDERFULLY in school now that they know I expect progress and not just the wait and see attitude. I mean business...I sent in my bald headed, big dh to the meetings with an attorney's name and invited the director of SE for the SD and it was almost a knock down drag out, but it got what we needed to convey across on both sides. Now the director goes to ALL of our meetings - we just re-wrote Payne's IEP and it is WONDERFUL now...nothing is left out!
It really depends on the district. Where in Northern California are you looking to locate? Sacramento has a FEAT chapter that is an amazing wealth of knowledge.
Copyright Autism-PDD.net